Last night, two of our grandsons spent the night with us. Of course, they awakened ready to play video games and have breakfast from Grammy’s kitchen, where she fixes what their hearts desire. After breakfast, they truly come to life. Chatter, laughter, and silly fun.

Luke and Judah were standing in front of our Alexa echo. They love to ask her so many questions, some silly, some informational. Alexa would often say, “Hello, Luke.” She says that to Luke, Judah, and me.

When Luke visited one day, he somehow got Alexa to remember who he was and his voice. Judah’s voice sounds similar, so when he talks to Alexa, she will call him Luke. That does not set well with the five-year-old.

With a sad face, Judah came to me and said, “Hey, Grammy. Alexa just called me Luke. I don’t want to be Judah anymore. I want to change my name to Luke.” I explained that I could not change his name. He said, “Can my mom change my name?”

Judah had a flare-up of a disease called “comparison-itis.” I wish I could be Luke. I want what Luke has. Things would be better if I were like Luke.

Comparison is a killer! Comparison-itis can be a chronic, debilitating disease. It goes into remission when we are happy, when we are stroked by others, or when all is going well. All too often, the moment something does not go the way we want it to go, it flares up.

Can I tell you a little secret? I spent way too much of my life living with comparison-itis. Every time I let myself get infected with this spirit-killing disease, it would take the joy right out of my life. If only I could teach the Bible like her. If only I was as slim as she is. If only I had a house as nice as hers. If only I was as highly educated as she is. If I could just be the kind of mother she is.

Yes, I have struggled with every one of the things I listed above, and quite a few others. It would often cause me to head to comparison prison and often in solitary confinement. After all, what did I really have to offer?

I remember going to God and telling Him why I could not continue ministry from a platform. Surely, He had missed it when He called me, or maybe I even missed what I heard. As I wiped my tears and quieted myself before Him, it was as if He spoke audibly. “You are fearfully and wonderfully made. YOU – Barbara – YOU.” God did not try to convince me. He did not argue with me. He just stated His truth and His opinion.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about being happy with who God made us to be. One of the most freeing verses that I have found is, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” – Galatians 6:4 NLT. That verse just shouts, “FREEDOM.” This tells me that all God wants and asks is that I give my personal best to whatever He has called me to do. I can be secure and satisfied knowing that God is pleased with me, and I do not need to compare myself with anyone else. That is THE truth.

Years ago, comparison would kill so much joy in my life. I did not want to be around people because I was not thin enough. I did not want to speak at a large event with multiple speakers, because they were better at their gift than I was. I did not want to have people over because their house was much nicer than mine.

I went through too many periods where I hung out at the burning bush like Moses, so I could explain to God why I could not walk out my calling. “I am introverted. I am insecure. They will not even understand what I am saying in Maine or California with this deep southern accent. I am afraid to get up in front of people.”

David said it this way, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:13-14. It is time to stop allowing comparison-itis to rob you. You are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. Today is the day to know that full well.

Do flare-ups of comparison-itis try to find their way into my life? Yes. What is the best thing to do about it? Be me! If you feel yourself coming down with this disease, what is the best thing you can do about it? Be you! You are God’s masterpiece. Know that full well!

Eight‑year‑old Frank had looked forward for weeks to this particular Saturday because his father had promised to take him fishing if the weather was suitable. There had not been any rain for weeks and as Saturday approached, Frank was confident about the fishing trip. But, wouldn’t you know it, when Saturday morning dawned, it was raining heavily, and it appeared that it would continue all day.

 Frank wandered around the house, peering out the windows and grumbling more than a little. “Seems like the Lord would know that it would have been better to have the rain yesterday than today,” he complained to his father who was sitting by the fireplace enjoying a good book. His father tried to explain to Frank how badly the rain was needed, how it would make the flowers grow and bring much needed moisture to the farmers’ crops. But Frank was adamant. “It just isn’t right,” he said over and over.

Then, at about three o’clock, the rain stopped. Still time for some fishing, and quickly the gear was loaded, and they were off to the lake. Whether it was the rain or some other reason, the fish were biting hungrily and father and son returned with a full string of fine, big fish.

At supper, when some of the fish were ready, Frank’s mom asked him to say grace. Frank did‑‑and concluded his prayer by saying, “And, Lord, if I sounded grumpy earlier today it was because I couldn’t see far enough ahead.” 

No doubt much of our complaining is because we cannot see far enough ahead.

Today, I would like to talk about the One who knows the rest of your story.

My husband Gaylon was a pastor for thirty-three years and a chaplain for eighteen years. There was a period of time when Gaylon found himself with no pastorate, no open doors, and three children to feed. I thought, “Surely, this will end in a few days, and we will know exactly where we are going, and this test will be over.”

It did NOT end in a few days.

I remember one day as I was lying across my bed, I became engulfed in fear, anxiety, and even anger. “God, how could You allow this to continue? We serve You. How are we supposed to feed our children or pay the electric bill? You have forgotten us.”

Yep, that was my conversation with God. It was not my proudest moment in prayer. More complaining than prayer. My faith had totally been eaten up by fear and anger.

As I sobbed in my pillow, thinking of my children, I sensed God say, “They are my children, too.” I am so grateful for a God who can handle all my fears and anxieties when the ocean of life sends another wave to knock me down.

Thank God for the rest of the story!

While resting on my tear-stained pillow, the phone rang. On the other end of the line was a nationally known speaker who did not know me. She said that she was part of an advisory board of a church in Michigan. The church was without a pastor, and Gaylon’s name was given to her as a possibility of becoming their pastor.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement!

A couple of weeks later, Gaylon and I were on an airplane headed to Michigan. Without going into all the details, let me share the condensed version. It was a wonderful opportunity, and the church wanted Gaylon to become their pastor. After much prayer, we felt that was not where we were to go. Right after that the next step in our pastoral journey opened.

This is the power and the reach of the God we serve! A well-known minister, who does not even know us, calls and asks us to consider a church in Michigan. While ministering there, the church received an offering for us that paid our bills that were due. It was not our next place for pastoral work, but it was the place where God supplied our needs, and we were able to minister effectively to the church who was going through discouraging circumstances. God was doing something for us and something for that church.

Just a short amount of time passed until God opened our next door for ministry.

While I was faithless and angry, God was at work. Like Frank in the story above, I could not see far enough ahead. BUT GOD saw it all and was working all things together for my family and the family of God.

Beloved, we are always in the middle of our story. We yearn to know what is going to happen at the end of our stories. The waiting is not fun, and the middle of the story is often full of challenges, twists, and setbacks. Trusting God means trusting that while we cannot see the end from the beginning, He does.

What are you facing today that causes tears to fall and concern about the future? Please remember this: if we live on the earth, we are always in the middle of our story. As we allow the Lord to author the story with us, the rest of the story will be beautiful, not without challenge, but beautiful. Trust the heart and character of God who knows the rest of the story.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT; “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7.

Life is full of difficulties. Children walk down paths that we know are unhealthy for their well-being. Cars break down. Washing machines die. Schedules get unexpectedly disrupted. Loved ones pass away, often leaving us with heavy grief. Unexpected financial hits come our way. Betrayal barges into our lives. Sickness continues in a body that is already frail.

Life gets hard, even for those who are madly in love with Jesus. If I were to ask you to make a list of everything in the last week that has produced anxiety in your life, my feeling is that, in some cases, the list could be lengthy.

Recently, I was praying for and thinking about an individual who is being tormented by fear and anxiety. I decided to read articles or devotions on the topic, articles written from a Christian perspective. By the time I finished reading a few of them, I felt like a terrible Christian because I had dared, at times, to be fearful or anxious.

Here is the message I received from most of these well-meaning articles. “What? You are a child of God, and you allow fear and anxiety to come into you? You stop that right now!”  The most often used verse was from Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Most writers explain this verse by saying that the original language of the Bible is the imperative tense. In other words, it is a command for a believer not to be anxious and worried. Many went on to say that we are engaging in sin when we are anxious or fearful. We do not have faith if we are anxious or fearful. God is disappointed in us when we are anxious or fearful. At times, there was rebuke for those feeling anxiety.

I have a serious question. How does that thought process help a person who is already overwhelmed with the circumstances of life? How does that help the person who is fighting anxiety and fear?

Let me give another perspective to consider. Yes, that passage is written in the imperative tense, meaning God is saying, “Do not be filled with anxiety and fear. Do not do it!” That is true.

However, let’s put the whole sentence in that verse together. God gives what to do as an antidote for anxiety.

Here is what God is instructing His people to do. When life becomes overwhelming and anxiety tries to be your best friend, remember to Whom you belong. When that happens, run as fast as you can to the presence of the Lord saying, “I refuse to let anxiety rule me today. God, I bring this to You. I need Your help, Your divine supply, Your guidance, and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When we learn to run to God every time anxiety tries to control us, He tells us what that will produce in the believer. Verses six and seven of Philippians four say, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

I love that passage! God invites us to bring every situation to Him. E-V-E-R-Y situation! Bring every situation to Him with thanksgiving. “Father, I come to You with the situation of my car that has broken down. God, I do not have the money to fix it, but I am not going to sit around worrying about something I cannot fix. I am running to You, asking You to touch my spirit and cause my faith to soar. I know You have an answer. I need rest and peace. I want to look to You and not just to myself. It is with a heart of thanksgiving that I bring this request to You. I give thanks for the many times You helped the situations of my life. I give thanks for my salvation. I give thanks for the goodness of God. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.”

God’s promise is that He will bring peace that transcends the situation. He will guard our hearts and our minds. What a blessing!

What are you anxious about today? As believers, we are certainly not exempt from the cares of life and the anxiety they can produce. As believers, we are called to handle anxiety and fear with a different perspective. God gives us an invitation to shift our focus from the problems surrounding us to the One who holds the entire world in His hands.

Take a piece of paper or make a note on your phone listing the things that are making you anxious. Bring each of them to God. Give Him thanks. Then, next to each of those things write, “God is at work. I can trust Him.”  Then, as anxiety begins to prey on you throughout the day or evening, pull out that note, and bring to God your concerns.

Does that seem too simple to possibly help? That is exactly what the enemy of your peace would want you to think. I challenge you to take EVERY situation to the throne of God. Some days that might mean doing this several times per day. For a month, practice handling life’s anxieties as God instructed. At the end of a month, watch the peace of God begin to replace the anxiety of situations!

As believers, we are not exempt from worry, but we are called to approach our fears with a different perspective. That is, we are invited to shift our focus from the problems surrounding us to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Be anxious for nothing. Take it to God.

(I believe it would be a travesty for me not to add this thought. There are some who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks as a health condition. Please know that it is not wrong to seek medical or mental health treatment, or a counselor. What I have written is not meant to minimize a condition that might require help from God and health professionals.)

I am so over the “social media influencers” era. I remember a time when we did not have Facebook, Tik Tok, Twitter (X), or Instagram. Who else remembers when that was the case? It is often about how many likes I get on a post, or how many followers I have. I need to be cool and accepted.

I want my influence to come from the Bible, and I want any influence I give to be done in such away that it will honor the Name of Jesus. Often, I cringe at posts from Christians. In social media, there is the good, the bad, the ugly.

The Good

• I can keep up with friends around the globe. I now regularly stay in touch with some friends that were in the churches where Gaylon was their pastor. It is amazing to see their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I stay in touch with both high school and college friends.
• I can keep up with family members that I rarely see. I have nieces and nephews living all over this country. Social media has helped me “see” them and what is happening in their lives. I can offer humor, advice when asked, prayer, and long-distance hugs.
• I can post a lot of thoughts from a Christian perspective, including the posting of this blog. It is another way to get the Gospel out.

The Bad

• Social media has amped up the political division in the nation and has caused great division among family and friends. Some will not even speak to each other because of political differences.
• The hateful discourse that can come from people’s mouth is on full display through their fingers as they type with what or with whom they disagree.
• Without checking for accuracy, people post things others have written. False stories are posted over and over. This has ruined reputations and caused division – division that could have been avoided if the lies were not perpetuated.

The Ugly

• Social media can be as ugly as me trying on a bikini in a dressing room with a three-sided mirror! The language that is now acceptable by both mouth and posts still shocks me. F bombs explode like it is no big deal, like it is normal. No, it is not!
• Many people are toxic on social media. I recently saw a person call out their pastor because he made them angry about something. They proceeded to talk about his family and the church in a way to invite other attackers to join this. I have seen the same with political posts.
• Other people are deeply hurt and wounded over posts that should not even be on social media. For several years, I followed the story of a little boy in Alabama who was born with a severe deformity. He was missing a third of his skull and had severe deformities in his face and spine. Doctors said he would not live more than a few days. Grayson lived to be eight years old. The mother’s heart was so wounded because people saw his picture and used it to make comic remarks on posts they made. (At least they thought it was funny.)  Things were said like this is how it looks when you inbreed; this is a picture of the governor as a baby. It was horrible to see the pain this mother went through. It was so cruel.

While the Bible never explicitly mentions the internet or social media accounts. The Bible does speak to the issue of what we say. This Biblical wisdom can be applied to the words of our mouth and the words from our keyboard. Scripture has much to say about our words, our neighbors, coarse talk, kindness, and many other issues.

James 1:19 gives us wisdom that is good for in-person conversations and posting or commenting on social media. “Understand this, my beloved brothers, and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].” AMP

I make an appeal to all of us who bear the Name of Christ. Think before speaking and think before posting. The Savior of the world can use all things, including the words of His people on the worldwide web. Let us endeavor to use the gifts of technology for building others up and for pointing them to Christ. That is a wise use of words.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14

Help, I am struggling with having a quiet time!

As a woman blessed to travel speaking at conferences and retreats, I cannot tell you how many times, over the years, women have said, “I am struggling with having a quiet time with the Lord.”  Most of them feel guilty about this, and do not want to admit to other Christians that this is their dilemma.

Can we be set free today? The treasure is in an earthen vessel, and the earthen vessel can be affected in so many ways. There is tiredness. There is family responsibility. There is work. There is … we could go on and on. All of us are impacted by the natural things that life brings. Then, there is listening to other Christians who seem to have a glorious devotional time every day of their lives. It is never stale, difficult, or unexciting.

Here it comes – freedom! Your time with God can be special whether it feels special or not. It does not have to be Instagram or Facebook worthy with a photo post showing the perfect open journal and Bible, a hot cup of coffee in a gorgeous mug, all sitting on a beautiful table on a porch overlooking a creek!

All that matters is that you show up with an open heart and have a meeting with the One who loves you most and cares about your life.

Most days, I wake up, make the bed, start the coffee, sip that divine beverage from heaven, and I listen to Andre Bocelli sing “The Lord’s Prayer” song. That song helps me remember that I am not alone today. My omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God will be with me, no matter what comes my way. I then listen to Philippa Hanna sing, “You’re Still God.” That song reminds me that I might not feel God or see God today, but He is still God today.

Then, I go to a corner in my home that is set up just for me to have a meeting with God. Trust me, it is not gorgeous like pictures in a magazine, and the only water nearby is in the guest bathroom! But it is where I show up to sit with my Savior. I read at least a chapter, usually more from the Bible – His book. I listen to another worship song, and then I talk to God, and try to listen to see if He has something to say to me.

Some days, it is so glorious that I do not want to leave and will linger in His presence. Some days, it feels like I am there by myself. Some days it is a little shorter. Some days it is much longer. Sometimes it is a delight. Sometimes it is discipline. Sometimes my life is peaceful. Sometimes, chaos seems to have decided to be my best friend. Some days, I write down notes of things that were impressed upon my heart. Other days, I write nothing. There are times when I am in the house totally by myself, and I literally march around in warfare.

It does not have to be complicated or set up in a certain way. It just needs to happen every day of your life. Show up even when you do not feel like it. The most important meeting of your day will be the one with your Creator. It is not about striving. It is about abiding.

Every day will not feel like you have entered the third heaven mentioned by the Apostle Paul, but in a frantic, chaotic, scary world, our only hope for peace is found in abiding in Christ. Even if we struggle with it at times, we must be still and remind ourselves that He is God, and He is still on His throne.

Spend time with God. We were made to “taste and see that He is good.”  Ask God to bring your spiritual taste buds to life. There is no better pleasure in this world than fellowship with God. Some days you will soar into the heavenlies as You sense His presence. Other days might seem like discipline. Feelings are not the goal; the goal is to abide in Christ.

^“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  – John 15:4-5 NKJV. “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” – Psalm 34:8 NLT.

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is three or four feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, despite his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a running start. If it does not have space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly. He will remain a prisoner even though freedom is available above!

The same is true with the ordinary bat that flies around at night. A remarkably nimble creature in the air, but it struggles to take off from a level place. If it is placed in an open-top cage on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and painfully. Its only hope is to find some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. If it cannot find an elevated place to jump from, it will die in the cage even if there is freedom right above it.

Similarly, a bumble bee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it destroys itself even though freedom is available from above.

Many years ago, I placed the above story in my files. While cleaning out files, I noticed the article and read it. Wondering if it was true, I researched thoroughly and found the tale to be pretty accurate. On rare occasions, only the bumble bee will find its way out, but rarely.

Believers in Jesus Christ are often like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling through life with all their problems, frustrations, and burdens, even to the point of feeling like a prisoner in their own world, not realizing that the answer is “above” them.

I do not teach and will never teach that life always works out the way one desires. I do teach and will always teach, “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.”

I have found that if I only look for answers and escape routes on an earthly level, it can snuff the life and joy out of me. It is essential that I remember to always look above when I see no way out of something that is trying to hold me prisoner.

A church sign reminded me, that sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up! If there is one area that tries to imprison me, it is looking back. If only I had … If only this had not happened … If only I had not said that. I can get easily caged by my past mistakes, and then I remember to look up!

Psalm 121:1-2: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

We often look at these verses and think that the Psalmist is looking up to the hills and that is a high place from where his help comes. There is certainly truth in that statement, but let’s look at that psalm a little more closely.

Psalm 121 is a psalm or song of ascent. There are fifteen psalms of ascent in the scripture. The city of Jerusalem is situated on a hill. Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one of the three main annual Jewish festivals traditionally sang these songs on the “ascent” or the uphill road to the city. (According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of these Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.)

As the worshippers traveled the road, they could see the steep journey ahead of them. Rather than turning around and going back, they would start singing about their God who was with them every step of the journey.

The hills that we must cross can easily become our focus and trap us. As people who serve a God who has all power and all strength, we train ourselves to not get trapped by earthly focus. I will look to God who will bring me through the mountain, over the mountain, or around the mountain. And, at times. He will even remove the mountain.

My focus will not be on the mountain, but on the One who has all authority over the mountain. I refuse to be imprisoned when I was given the freedom to fly.

In Psalm 121, the singer is still far from the appointed place of worship, lifting his eyes toward the distant mountains, but He is never far from His God. He bursts forth in song on the steep journey! He looks above to a higher place than the mountains that stand before him.

I refuse to be like the buzzard, the bat, or the bumble bee and not look above. Do you see a steep mountain in front of you today? Look up! Don’t get stuck gazing at the mountain. Sing unto the Lord in the face of the mountain.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1. “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:10; “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” – Psalm 33:20

Decades ago, Gaylon and I went through a very difficult time financially. We had more month than money, without a doubt! The situation continued for a while, and I became truly despondent. I know, I know – Christians do not get despondent. Ummm – yes, they do! We can love Jesus and go through a hard time that wears on our emotions, bringing hopelessness.

There is a wonderful story in scripture that teaches us about disappointment and despondency. It is often called the story of the Road to Emmaus and is found in Luke 24. Please take the time to read the story and ponder all that the disciples are feeling.

Jesus had just been crucified, and His body was placed in a tomb. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, some women arrived at the tomb to anoint the body with spices. They were startled to find that the body of Jesus was gone, and they did not understand what had happened. Suddenly, two men dressed in glowing clothes stood beside them and asked, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead. He is risen. Don’t you remember that He told you this would happen?” Then, the women remembered His words.

The women ran to tell the disciples what had happened, and the Bible tells us, they did not believe the women and thought they were speaking nonsense. Peter did run to the tomb to check it out himself, and he found only strips of cloth. Yet, Peter was still confused about what had happened.

This is the point that we are given the story of the Road to Emmaus. Two of the disciples were taking a seven-mile walk to a village called Emmaus. They were discussing all that happened. Suddenly, Jesus begins to walk with them, but they were unable to recognize Him. Jesus asked what they were discussing. The question stopped them in their tracks. They had very despondent, downcast faces. They basically said to Jesus, “Have you been under a rock? Are you the only one who has missed all the events that just happened?”

Their frustration and hopelessness were palatable.

Verse eighteen shows us what they felt. “They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

They continued to walk and talk. They told the man who joined them to whole story about Jesus. Yet, they still did not understand who Jesus was. This newfound friend then told them about the scriptures concerning Jesus. As they got to their destination, Jesus whom they still did not recognize, looked as if He was going to continue onward, but the two insisted He come with them into their home and stay with them. They invited Him in. Then, as they were at the table and bread was broken, suddenly their eyes were opened and they realized it was JESUS. Then, Jesus suddenly disappeared.

There are many things we can learn from this story, but let’s just highlight a few.

1. We will all walk the road to Emmaus at some point. Even when we are devoted to Jesus, things can turn out so far from what we had pictured. When we find ourselves in that position, Jesus is walking with us, even if we cannot see Him. Jesus did not wave His nail scarred hands and say, “I’m here!” How I wish He would do that when I find myself in the dark places of life. By faith, we must believe that He walks with us even when we cannot perceive His presence.
2. Jesus met them right where they were. He did not walk away because they had moments of confusion and doubt. He also did not preach to them immediately. He let them share what was troubling them. “Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted, tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.”  
3. After He let them speak, then Jesus spoke. Jesus gave them reassurance but also gave correction. We all need reassurance, but we all need correction from time to time. Sometimes we need a cheerleader, and sometimes we need the voice of a straight-shooting prophet.
4. Time spent supping with Jesus restored their hope and desire to share the good news of Jesus once again. This encounter on the road so turned the hearts of the disciples that they turned around and ran back into the fray, back into Jerusalem, back into the world that had brought them pain and hopelessness. That is supernatural! According to Luke, their hearts moved from hopeless to burning! That is supernatural! That comes from supping with Jesus.

Do you find yourself walking down a road headed to hopelessness? I just want to give you a word of encouragement – Jesus is walking with you. He is ready to listen to all the hurt, the fear, and the disappointment. He is ready to speak hope back into your life. He wants to do the supernatural in your hopeless heart today. Look for Him on the road of hopelessness.

 ^“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Father, we thank You that Jesus is with us on our Road to Emmaus. Today, may our eyes be opened, so that we can recognize Jesus right beside us. Restore our hearts so they are filled with burning joy. Let our story get wrapped up in Your story. Come in and sup with us today, and may we leave Your table ready to sing Your praises and share the good news. Amen.

There was a man who wanted to get a job in the music industry. His goal was to one day own his own recording studio. To get his foot in the door, the man accepted a job at a recording studio listening for defects in recordings.

As he began his job, he was taught to listen not to the music, but to the snaps, crackles, and pops that found their way onto the recordings. As time rolled on, he found himself doing the same job for years, never finding himself in a better job position.

A friend of the man came through his city and asked if they could meet for dinner, and they did. As they were catching up on life, the man shared about his job at the recording studio. His friend said, “Man, it must be so cool to listen to all that music every day.”

The young man looked at his friend and responded, “Music? I never hear music anymore, all I hear is the snap, crackle, and pop.”

The young man had trained his ear to only listen to the mistakes and defects, and as a result he missed the beautiful music.

Hello, my name is Barbara Benton, and I am a recovering perfectionist! I am not sure what caused perfectionism to become my roommate, but it did! I developed a keen insight into what is being done wrong, how it could be done better, and how to fix it. I hear the snap, crackle, pop.

There is a good side to being able to see things that need tweaking, but I fell into the snap, crackle, pop syndrome. If I went to speak at a conference, when I was finished, I was often tormented by what I should have said, what I did not say, what I could have said better. My mind would stay on that.

My husband was a pastor and when he would preach, sometimes I would see that his tie was not straight, that he badly mispronounced a word, or think of ways that he could say something better. And I was ready to go over the list with him!

One Sunday, I got home from church and was preparing lunch, but Gaylon was not home yet. I thought of the ways I could gently let him know the areas that needed to be improved. My phone rang, and after answering, I heard the voice of one of our congregation members. She choked up and said to me, “Please tell Pastor Benton that sermon spoke directly to my heart today. I knew it was for me. I was dealing with a heavy situation, and Pastor’s words brought breakthrough for me. Please tell him how grateful I am for his words today.”

Holy Spirit immediately dealt with me. This woman heard the music, but I heard the snap, crackle, pop. We each had tuned our ears in a certain way. She was listening for the good parts, and I was listening for the wrong parts.

Let me be firm in saying that I am not one of “those” Christians who think you never deal with the negative. Of course, there are negative things that are said and done that need reckoning.

I am not that girl anymore, thank God! How did I change it?

Let me say that it was a process that took some time. These things helped:

1. Repent of perfectionism requiring you and others to do everything exactly right. Right, according to you.
2. Change the mindset by renewing the mind. In my case, I began to pray for my husband’s messages, asking God to use him and let the Word of God find good ground.
3. I began to pray for myself, that I would teach God’s word effectively, and then leave it in His hands. It is He who works in the hearts of people.
4. I have apologized to my children over incidences that I remembered where I was harsh with them just because I wanted things a certain way. I need them to see that I recognize my error.
5. I began to speak life over myself. When the negative thoughts come, I cast them out immediately. I try not to stew over them.
6. I remind myself that many criticized the works of Jesus, rather than receiving the loving things He offered. I do not want to be the one who critiques everything, instead of receiving the good parts.
7. I asked God to help me get over being performance based and instead become obedient based. If I act according to what God’s word teaches, then I am not prone to serve God just to get His approval and acceptance. I am already accepted in the beloved.
8. Be grace filled. The word of hope in the Bible for the perfectionist is grace. God gives us grace, and we must become grace givers to others.

I could continue listing reasons because it is a process, a process that I still must be aware of when my perfectionism raises its ugly head.

This I know – I want to walk through life hearing the music of heaven, and not the snap, crackle, and pop of earth. Let go of perfectionism.

“But he said to me, `My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

A few years back, I had a relative who was not expected to live. “Johnny” had a heart attack and was expected to leave this earth at any moment. They were hundreds of miles from where we lived.

One of Johnny’s children contacted me, and her tone was desperate. “Please pray for Daddy. He is not going to last very long, and I know he has never accepted Jesus as His Savior. We have a call into our pastor to get here, so he can lead him to Jesus. Pray the pastor gets here in time.”

While I did pray for the pastor’s timely arrival, my heart was sad and shocked. I was sad that this man was about to leave this earth, and his family was carrying the burden of sorrow. I was shocked that his daughter felt the only way to get him to Jesus was if the pastor could get there in time.

Are you prepared to lead a person to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world?

Today, is the day for YOU to prepare the way to lead a person to Christ. Do not put it off for another day. Today, plan what you will do if you are in a position to lead someone to the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

I remember talking to someone about sharing Jesus. The person said, “Well that is not so easy. As a matter of fact, with the way religion is debated today, it is intimidating to share about Jesus.”

Do not be intimidated about sharing the work of Jesus Christ. It is not your job to make someone accept the message. Our job is simply to be obedient to the call of offering Jesus to others.

One of the easiest and most natural ways of sharing your faith is to give your testimony. A testimony is just another word for your “story” – your spiritual journey. If you have been born again, you have a testimony. It is a joy whenever we have an opportunity to share our testimony with others. Even if you are a brand-new Christian, and do not know the Bible very well, you can still share your testimony with others.

If you are a visual person, or need a little help, try the wordless book. Yep, the wordless book that has been around for almost two centuries. Originally introduced by Charles Spurgeon in 1866 as a method to convey the Gospel, the Wordless Book has been a powerful tool over the years. Preachers, writers, and missionaries including D. L. Moody, Fanny Crosby, and Amy Carmichael used the same illustration.

The wordless book consists of pages in this order: black, red, white, gold, green. My heart was dark because of sin which is in every heart. The red shows us that a wonderful sacrificial lamb named Jesus was slain for our sins. The white reveals to us that when that red page touches that black page, it turns it white as snow. The gold reminds us of Heaven and that one day we will walk the streets of gold with Jesus and live with Him forever. The green instructs us to grow in the things of God.

Here are some simple scriptures to memorize to help in understanding the wordless book.

• Black – Romans 3:23
• Red – John 3:16
• White – Psalms 51:7
• Gold – Revelation 21:18, 21
• Green – 2 Peter 3:18

Surely, some will laugh or raise an eyebrow at using a wordless book. After all, we are not children. If you already know how to lead someone to Christ, then praise God, do it! If you are not sure what you would say, today is the day to prepare. You don’t have to buy a wordless book. Put five sticky dots in these colors on a card and keep with you. Or, just say, “Let me tell you my story using colors.” While sharing, weave your own story into the explanation.

A prayer to share with a person to whom you are witnessing: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do Your will. In Your Name, amen.”

Please do not let “Johnny” be on his death bed needing a Savior, and all you know to do is to wait on a better speaker to come along. Prepare today how to lead someone to the lifesaving, transforming love of Jesus Christ displayed on the cross. Share your story. Johnny needs you.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – 1 Peter 3:15

One of the joys of traveling to speak at churches and conferences is that I have the privilege of meeting a lot of people. A large percentage of these people are people I would never have met if I did not get on an airplane or travel a good distance to speak in another state or country.

While I was perusing my social media connections recently, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people with whom I am connected simply because I answered the call of God to teach His word. Some of them have become prayer partners. Some have become lunch buddies when I am in their area, or they are driving through the Birmingham area.

I began to reminisce about the many people with whom I have built a strong spiritual sister connection. One woman who came to mind is no longer in my life. She lives several hundred miles from me. We stayed in contact for years. We had long telephone conversations. We prayed for each other’s family. Had lunch almost every time I was in her area. She attended my speaking events if I was within a reasonable driving distance. We truly became friends.

Let’s call my friend Portia. After several years of friendship, the relationship with my friend changed. I no longer heard from Portia. I would come through her area, and she would decline lunch invitations. I even spoke in her hometown, and she did not come. A mutual friend came up to me after the meeting and said, “I asked Portia if she was coming, and she said no.” No explanation, just no.

I continued to write notes to Portia. Check on her from time to time. I texted her little notes, and if I got a reply, it was usually one word like yes or no. Finally, I asked Portia if I had offended her in some way and she replied with one word, “No.” 

I began to realize for some reason Portia walked away from me, and I had no clue as to why. No good-bye. Nothing.

There is no heartbreak quite like the heartbreak of losing someone to whom you have given time, trust, love, a listening ear, loyalty, and “poof” they are gone. The silence afterward can be deafening. You might yourself asking, “Why? Did I do something wrong? Why did she just walk away?” And the loss of a friendship is often accompanied by plenty of unwanted companions: insecurity, anger, isolation, bitterness, regret. 

Have you ever had this experience with a friend, a family member, or even a spouse?

Jesus had this experience. He invited twelve men to walk with Him and be a part of His ministry. Judas ate with Jesus, traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles of Jesus, listened to the teaching of Jesus, and became a friend of Jesus. Yet, Judas made the decision to walk away. While some have speculated why Judas walked away, we are never given a specific reason.

Jesus had His Portias.

Finally, I came to a point with my Portia that I had to release the relationship to God. I had done all I could to keep the relationship, but the truth is, you cannot make someone be in relationship with you. It does not mean something is wrong with you, and it does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your Portia.

Please hear me. When it comes to our Portias, Jesus sees every tear, He feels every wound, He sees every seed you have sown. Jesus understands.

I lovingly suggest that if “Portia” has left you:

1. Do not let bitterness take over.
2. Do not let it spiritually paralyze you.
3. Do not let that define you as a person.
4. Release Portia to God.
5. Declare to yourself and to God, “I will not be bitter. I will walk forward healed and whole.
6. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you with the hurt and wounds of betrayal.
7. Ask God to help you release what you do not understand.

Above all, remember that God never walks away, and even when a friend or someone we love walks away, it does not have to cripple our lives. God is still writing our redemptive story! Be open to the next chapter.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13